Collapsible crate



(No Model.)

W. H.PLATT, J1.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE. No. 579,805. Patented Mar. 30, 1897.

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VILLIAM H. PLATT, JR., OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,805, dated March30, 1 89'7. Application filed May 29, 1896. Serial No. 593,659. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. PLATT, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding orCollapsible Crates, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in folding orcollapsible crates, and has for its object to provide a device of thisdescription which may be folded into a small compass for convenience inshipping, and when desired for use may be quickly adj usted, so as to beas firm and serviceable as a crate of ordinary construction.

A further object of my invention is to reduce the cost of such crates,so that they may come into general use, thus displacing the ordinarycrates, which after reaching their destination and being emptied becomean obstruction.

With these ends in View my invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and thenspecifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction and operation in detail, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this speciicatiomin which- Figure l is acentral longitudinal section of a crate made in accordance with myimprovement, illustrating its appearance when adjusted for use; Fig. 2,a cross-section of the same; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the severalparts of the crate when folded into position for transportation, andFig. 4 a perspective of the crate when ready for shipment.

In carrying out my invention I hinge the bottom A and two sides B and Otogether by the hinges D and E, so that the lower edge of the side Bwill swing over the upper surface of the bottom A and the lower edge ofthe side O will swing back upon said surface, as clearly shown inl Fig.2. `The ends F are hinged at G to the side O, so that when swung in theposition shown in Fig. l they may be secured to the side B by the haspsH, which are adapted to engage the staples I, so that by the passage ofa Cotter-pin .I through each of the staples the hasp will be preventedfroml disengagement from said staples, thereby holding the ends in theirproper relation to the remainder of the crate. When the bottom, sides,and ends have been thus secured, the top L, which is hinged at K to theside B, may be swung into position, so as to close the crate and theresecured by the hasp M in conjunction with the staple N, through whichthe hasp of a padlock O may pass. The edge of the top next the hinges Kis beveled, and a corresponding bevel formed upon the upper edge of theside B permit-s the top to swing open without obstruction, as will bereadily understood.

From this description it will be seen that a crate built in accordance.with my improvement may be collapsed by the withdrawal of thecotter-pins and the disengagement of the hasps I-I from their staples,when the top, two sides, and bottom may be folded into the positionshown in Fig. 3, the ends F folding backward onto the side C, and whenthis has been accomplished it is obvious that the crate may be securedagainst displacement by the passing of a cord therearound or otherwise,and when so folded the crate may be shipped to any distance without theliability of injury, and, as is well understood, this is of greatadvantage in devices of this description, in that after goods have beenshipped in such a crate and the latter has been emptied it may be againreturned to the placeof shipment for reuse, thus obviating the necessityof supplying a new crate after their shipment of goods.

When the crate is to be used for eggs or similar articles requiring thedivision ythereof into compartments, this I accomplish by providing apartition P, which may be itted into suitable grooves formed in thesides of the crate, so that when the crate is collapsed these partitionsmay be removed and placed upon the side O in the space interveningbetween the two ends F, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

One of the principal advantages of my improvement is that when adjustedfor use it will be as rigid as though made in the ordinary way, and yetthe cost to produce such a crate is but little in excess of that nowrequired to produce the ordinary crate.

Slight modifications might be made in the Construction here shownwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore donot Wish to be limited to the exact design described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- 'lhe collapsible crate consisting of the bottom, the sides and thetop all hinged together and the transverse partition with its ends setinto said sides the hinges eonneetin g said top and one side and thehinges connecting said bottom and the opposite side being on the insideand arranged at diagonally opposite points and the hinges connecting theaforesaid side and bottom being on the outside and diagonally oppositethe hasp or entrance to the Crate7 substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto ai"- 'fixed my signature in thepresence of two subseribing witnesses.

7WILLIAM 1I. ILA'V, JR. Ti tnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, U. G. J'oNEs.

